In a peaceful White House protest April 2, 2016, a demonstrator waves a flag with marijuana leaves on it during a call for the legalization of marijuana. During the rally protesters demanded President Obama use his authority to stop marijuana arrests and pardon offenders. (Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press)

Federal marijuana playbook: Trump administration’s tough talk and what we know so far

A timeline of federal marijuana talk

It’s been one month since we heard the first public words from the Trump administration regarding marijuana. While we have yet to hear from President Donald Trump himself on this issue or the exact plans of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, there has been a lot to take in. Here’s a review of the biggest statements, the clearest responses and a handy guide to The Cannabist’s analyses and explainers.

February 23:

“There’s a big difference between (medical marijuana) and recreational marijuana, and I think when you see something like the opioid addiction crisis blossoming in so many states around this country, the last thing we should be doing is encouraging people.”

February 27:

“Experts are telling me there’s more violence around marijuana than one would think. … You can’t sue somebody for a drug debt. The only way to get your money is through strong-arm tactics, and violence tends to follow that.”

He said that the Justice Department will try to adopt “responsible policies” for enforcement of federal anti-marijuana laws:

“I am definitely not a fan of expanded use of marijuana. … I would just say, it does remain a violation of federal law to distribute marijuana throughout any place in the United States, whether a state legalizes it or not.”

“I’m not sure I’d put too much thought or too much credit into what (Spicer) was saying. This president has been all about federalism and giving the states more authority, this just flies in the face of that.”

He added:

“Colorado has been the leader when it comes to marijuana and the regulation. … I don’t think our new president will turn his back on allowing states to do what they need to do, whether (marijuana) or anything else.”

February 28:

Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks at the National Association of Attorneys General annual winter meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, in Washington, D.C. (Alex Brandon, The Associated Press)

“I, as you know, am dubious about marijuana. States can pass whatever laws they choose, but I’m not sure we’re going to be a better, healthier nation if we have marijuana being sold at every corner grocery store. … We don’t need to be legalizing marijuana.”

March 1:

Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman invites Sessions to come visit a recreational marijuana state and “see what we have done.”

March 2:

Virginia U.S. Representative introduces bill to end federal marijuana prohibition: Republican Rep. Thomas Garrett’s bill seeks to remove marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act and resolve the existing conflict between federal and state laws over medical or recreational use of the drug. It would not legalize the sale and use of marijuana in all 50 states – it would simply allow states to make their own decisions on marijuana policy without the threat of federal interference.

March 9:

“Marijuana is against federal law, and that applies in states where they may have repealed their own anti-marijuana laws. So yes, we will enforce law in an appropriate way nationwide.”

Some observers took heart that he added:

“It’s not possible for the federal government, of course, to take over everything the local police used to do in a state that’s legalized it.”

But then he returned to a prior theme:

“And I’m not in favor of legalization of marijuana. I think it’s a more dangerous drug than a lot of people realize. I don’t think we’re going to be a better community if marijuana is sold in every corner grocery store.”

Asked about whether he could send a message by bringing a RICO case against one retailer, Sessions said the Justice Department is analyzing its options:

“We’ll be evaluating how we want to handle that. I think it’s a little more complicated than one RICO case, I’ve got to tell you. This, places like Colorado, it’s just sprung up a lot of different independent entities that are moving marijuana. And it’s also being moved interstate, not just in the home state. … And neighbors (Oklahoma and Nebraska) are complaining, and filed lawsuits against them. So it’s a serious matter, in my opinion.”

“We have too much of a tolerance for drug use. We need to say, as Nancy Reagan said, ‘Just say no.’ There’s no excuse for this, it’s not recreational. Lives are at stake, and we’re not going to worry about being fashionable. … I’ve heard people say we could solve our heroin problem with marijuana. How stupid is that? Give me a break!”

This was actually a toned-down version of his prepared remarks, which included the line:

“I am astonished to hear people suggest that we can solve our heroin crisis by legalizing marijuana – so people can trade one life-wrecking dependency for another that’s only slightly less awful.”

After his speech, in a Q&A session with reporters, Sessions said he was “dubious” of medical marijuana in general:

“Medical marijuana has been hyped, maybe too much.”

The big question that remains to be seen, is what Sessions meant, and how he will act on, the following part of his answers that day (emphasis ours):

“The Cole memorandum set up some policies under President Obama’s Department of Justice about how cases should be selected in those states and what would be appropriate for federal prosecution, much of which I think is valid. … I may have some different ideas myself in addition to that. … We’re not able to go into a state and pick up the work that the police and sheriffs have been doing for decades.”